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Hypnotherapy

What is Hypnotherapy and how does it work?

The practice of promoting healing or positive development in any way is known as hypnotherapy. As such, hypnotherapy is a kind of psychotherapy. Hypnotherapy aims to re-program patterns of behaviour within the mind, enabling irrational fears, phobias, negative thoughts and suppressed emotions to be overcome.

Hypnotherapy is a form of complementary therapy that utilizes the power of positive suggestion to bring about subconscious change to our thoughts, feelings and behavior. The process itself aims to alter our state of consciousness in a way that relaxes the conscious part of the mind while simultaneously stimulating and focusing the subconscious part. This heightened state of awareness, reached using skilled relaxation techniques, allows the therapist to then make appropriate suggestions.

A hypnotist merely helps to facilitate your experience; hypnotherapy is not about being made to do things. In fact, it is the opposite; it is about empowerment. The therapist is able to suggest ideas, concepts and lifestyle adaptations to the patient, the seeds of which become firmly planted.

Hypnotherapy is a functional and reasonable way to build new behaviors, create new patterns and find alternate ways of dealing with situations, thereby enforcing positive change and restoring well-being of mind and body.

In a nutshell, hypnotherapy can generally help with any problem you're finding hard to handle on your own - thoughts and actions you'd like to banish or acquire, or emotional suffering that is too overwhelming or has gone on too long. Some physical problems can also be treated effectively by hypnotherapy.

Does everyone respond to Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy has the capacity to work for the majority of individuals but some are more susceptible to suggestions than others. The most important thing to remember is that you must be fully committed to the process and feel that you can place your trust in your hypnotherapist. It's also important to keep an open mind as any skepticism may subconsciously dampen your susceptibility.

Why Hypnotherapy?

Because it is effective, powerful and it works. It can also work faster than other modes of therapy as it directly deals with the subconscious mind.

Put simply, where your problem is due to habitual conditioning (habit formation), accumulated reprogram these complexes which are being sustained and remain active at the unconscious level.

When might Hypnotherapy be useful?

Hypnotherapy is widely endorsed as a treatment for habit breaking, stress-related issues and for a range of long-term conditions, and in recent years has been gaining steam in the medical world after a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recognized hypnotherapy as a treatment for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Hypnotherapy can reduce the fear and anxiety that some people feel before medical or dental procedures.  For example, studies show that dental patients who underwent hypnosis had a significantly higher threshold for pain than those who were not hypnotized.  Hypnosis may also improve recovery time and reduce anxiety and pain following surgery.  Clinical trials on burn patients suggest that hypnosis decreases pain (enough to replace pain medication) and speeds healing.  Generally, clinical studies show that using hypnosis may reduce your need for medication, improve your mental and physical condition before an operation, and reduce the time it takes to recover.  Dentists also use hypnotherapy to control gagging and bleeding.

Other problems or conditions that may respond to hypnotherapy include:

Physical Problems

  • Pain control
  • Skin disorders such as Psoriasis
  • Scoliosis
  • Shy bladder
  • Sleeping disorders
  • Warts
  • Headache and Migraines
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Labor and delivery
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Indigestion
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Crohns
  • Colitis
  • Allergies

Emotional Problems

  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Bed-wetting
  • Bullying
  • Confidence, Self Esteem
  • Depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Grieving and loss
  • Hair-pulling
  • Jealousy
  • Nail biting
  • Nightmares
  • Panic attacks
  • Phobias and fear
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Previous therapeutic abuse
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Self harm
  • Stress
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Psychogenic infertility

Personal Performance

  • Driving test nerves
  • Effective studying
  • Interview and exam performance
  • Memory improvement
  • Motivation
  • Public speaking and presentations
  • Sports, Stage, Work and musical performance (to International and Professional level)

Addictions

Alcohol, Drug use and flash-backs from old drug misuse, Gambling, Sexual, Smoking

Miscellaneous

Decision making, Difficulties coming to terms with sexual orientation, Erectile problems, Lack of libido, Painful sex, Premature ejaculation, Preparation for childbirth, Recovering from past sexual abuse, Stress management and Weight loss/gain, Insomnia

 

Research

In 1995, the US National Institute for Health (NIH) established a Technology Assessment Conference that compiled an official statement entitled "Integration of Behavioral & Relaxation Approaches into the Treatment of Chronic Pain & Insomnia". This is an extensive report that includes a statement on the existing research in relation to hypnotherapy for chronic pain. It concludes that:

The evidence supporting the effectiveness of hypnosis in alleviating chronic pain associated with cancer seems strong. In addition, the panel was presented with other data suggesting the effectiveness of hypnosis in other chronic pain conditions, which include irritable bowel syndrome, oral mucositis [pain and swelling of the mucus membrane], temporomandibular disorders [jaw pain], and tension headaches. (NIH, 1995)

In 1999, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) published a Clinical Review of current medical research on hypnotherapy and relaxation therapies,[32] it concludes,

  • "There is strong evidence from randomized trials of the effectiveness of hypnosis and relaxation for cancer related anxiety, pain, nausea, and vomiting, [side effects of chemotherapy] particularly in children."
  • "They are also effective for panic disorders and insomnia, particularly when integrated into a package of cognitive therapy (including, for example, sleep hygiene)."
  • "A systematic review has found that hypnosis enhances the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for conditions such as phobia, obesity, and anxiety."
  • "Randomized controlled trials support the use of various relaxation techniques for treating both acute and chronic pain, [...]"
  • "Randomized trials have shown hypnosis to be of value in asthma and in irritable bowel syndrome [...]"

2001, the Professional Affairs Board of the British Psychological Society (BPS) commissioned a working party of expert psychologists to publish a report entitled The Nature of Hypnosis. [33] Its remit was 'to provide a considered statement about hypnosis and important issues concerning its application and practice in a range of contexts, notably for clinical purposes, forensic investigation, academic research, entertainment and training.' The report provides a concise (c. 20 pages) summary of the current scientific research on hypnosis. It opens with the following introductory remark:

"Hypnosis is a valid subject for scientific study and research and a proven therapeutic medium."

With regard to the therapeutic uses of hypnosis, the report said:

"Enough studies have now accumulated to suggest that the inclusion of hypnotic procedures may be beneficial in the management and treatment of a wide range of conditions and problems encountered in the practice of medicine, psychiatry and psychotherapy."

The working party then provided an overview of some of the most important contemporary research on the efficacy of clinical hypnotherapy, which is summarized as follows:

  • "There is convincing evidence that hypnotic procedures are effective in the management and relief of both acute and chronic pain and in assisting in the alleviation of pain, discomfort and distress due to medical and dental procedures and childbirth."
  • "Hypnosis and the practice of self-hypnosis may significantly reduce general anxiety, tension and stress in a manner similar to other relaxation and self-regulation procedures."
  • "Likewise, hypnotic treatment may assist in insomnia in the same way as other relaxation methods."
  • "There is encouraging evidence demonstrating the beneficial effects of hypnotherapeutic procedures in alleviating the symptoms of a range of complaints that fall under the heading 'psychosomatic illness." These include tension headaches and migraine; asthma; gastro-intestinal complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome; warts; and possibly other skin complaints such as eczema, psoriasis and urticaria [hives].
  • "There is evidence from several studies that its [hypnosis'] inclusion in a weight reduction program may significantly enhance outcome."[33]